Syria's Assad Says Priority is Capturing IS Capital Raqqa
Syria's President Bashar Assad tells a Chinese TV station that his military's priority is to reach the Islamic State group's de-facto capital of Raqqa — toward which U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces are also advancing.
The interview with Hong-Kong based Phoenix TV aired Saturday, Assad says another IS stronghold, Deir el-Zour, can be targeted in parallel.
Assad says "in theory" he shares the same priority with U.S. President Donald Trump of fighting terrorism, but that they have had no formal contact yet. He says Russia, a major ally, hopes it can bring the U.S. and Turkey into cooperating with Moscow and Damascus in the fight against terrorism in Syria. Assad's government views all armed opposition as terrorist groups.
Assad says all foreign troops on Syrian soil without invitation or consultation with the Syrian government are considered "invaders."
11 March 2017, 13:54
23
Your Allie. Not mine. What happened to the thousands of Lebanese disappeared by the Assad regimes?
11 March 2017, 14:16
51
Well he will remain in power in Syria for now.
He is not going anywhere.
11 March 2017, 14:38
40
Flamethrower, how does it feels to see all the things we said from the beginning come true?
Such as President Aoun became President, and Assad staying in power.
It is a good feeling indeed.
11 March 2017, 14:53
02
FT ... You are a fascist that may support criminals and murderers. You need not project into others what it is in you. You and Mystic are no less obnoxious than the ISIS supporters.
